Clark Quote of the Day: On Conversion: Knowing and Believing

 But understanding alone is not faith. Faith is believing what one understands. -- Gordon H. Clark

Now, God could omnipotently regenerate a man without using any means (if it should so please him), and in a sense he does so. But he has so ordered the situation that there are conditions. A condition preceding faith is an understanding of the propositions to be believed. No one can believe that of which he knows nothing. Saul, the persecutor, understood Christian doctrine better than the Christians did. The people referred to in Matthew 13:15 deliberately avoided an understanding, for fear that it might convert them. Hence understanding the Gospel, at least understanding some of it, must precede regeneration alone as the east wind preceded the escape of the Israelites. But understanding alone is not faith. Faith is believing what one understands. A theologian or philosopher understands many theories he does not believe. In regeneration God causes the sinner to believe what heretofore he had only understood. As Paul said, “Faith cometh by hearing.” This is the means God uses.

Gordon H. Clark (2013-03-04T05:00:00+00:00). What Is The Christian Life? (Kindle Locations 200-208). The Trinity Foundation. Kindle Edition.

(Cf. Romans 10:8-10, 17).